Earlier this week, the Seattle City Council approved $320,000 in matching funds to support 23 community technology projects across the City. The grants awarded will provide vital resources for youth and families, immigrants and refugees, seniors, people with disabilities, and job seekers. Specifically, these projects will provide neighborhoods with resources for employment training, after-school homework help, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education, community safety tools, online health information, housing information, and digital skills training for social media, audio and video production, and basic training in computer and Internet skills.

"The Technology Matching Fund is a critical partnership between the city and the community by maximizing resources to ensure that all of our residents have the tools to find jobs, students can receive after-school homework help, and communities can develop online public safety networks,” said Councilmember Bruce Harrell. "This inclusive program exemplifies the City’s commitment to Race and Social Justice by providing resources and technology access to all of our residents."

Eight of the 23 projects awarded this year will increase the use of technology for community building and civic engagement. Twelve of the 23 projects awarded have received funding in the last five years, which will help maintain and build on current services for that community.

The Citizens' Telecommunications and Technology Advisory Board (CTTAB) recommended these digital inclusion projects to the Mayor and Council through an open competitive application process. Grant recipients will match the city's dollars with over $844,172 in community matching resources, including volunteer labor, professional services and donated equipment and software.

The Technology Matching Fund is managed by the Department of Information Technology's Community Technology Program and was established in 1997 to support the community's efforts to close the digital divide and encourage the use of information technologies for civic engagement. The city named the matching fund in memory of Bill Wright, a Central District community leader who embodied the program's goal of using technology tools to build strong neighborhoods. Since the program began, the city has contributed over $2,150,832 to 177 projects with community contributions totaling more than $4,469,825. The fund furthers the city's commitment to education, inclusion, and race and social justice. For more information on the Bill Wright Technology Matching Fund, visit www.seattle.gov/tech or contact communitytechnology@seattle.gov.

West Seattle secured two of the grants one for the Blockwatch Captains Network the West Seattle Herald previously reported on and another for the Youth Media Institute.

West Seattle Blockwatch Captains' Network
Online System
Develop an online system to efficiently network the Blockwatch captains in Southwest Seattle. Enable residents in areas with public safety concerns to do research and create and update their Blockwatch information online. The project will then share their lessons learned with other underserved neighborhoods to enable them to adapt the technology for their own communities.
Award: $4,000
Type: Civic Engagement
District: Southwest

Youth Media Institute
Youth Out in the Community: Exploring Youth Barriers to Higher Education
Conduct a series of workshops where low income, immigrant youth ages 13-18 will learn and utilize media technologies to engage their broader community and to explore specifically the topic of “Youth Barriers to Higher Education.” Youth participants will plan and organize a multimedia community forum.
Award: $14,000
Type: Civic Engagement
District: Delridge